Foo - Looking for ideas for a feasibility or design project.

Hey guys I have a project in one of my classes. It is pretty much a feasibilty project. Very open ended. It can be anything from feasibility of converting mass transit to hybrid vehicles, towns to solar/wind/tidal energy, or pretty much anything related to the possibilities of changing to alternate energy sources. It can also be feasibility of adding something to a product or redesigning a product (example, adding something to a product to improve efficiency). It is also possible to just do a straight up traditional design project.

I can do anything I want to which is what makes choosing so difficult. I can do materials, thermodynamics, heat transfer, manufacturing, hydraulics, pneumatics, mechatronics, fluid dynamics and on and on. I have access to a wind tunnel. It is fairly small (something like 2'x2'x2') but it is available. It doesnt have to be experimental either.

Any input would be great. Thanks

How about the feasibility of making a battery that doesn't put hybrid cars in the position of doing more overall environmental damage than conventional cars?

mass transit buses in japan are hybrid diesel, automatic idling cut off/startup with borderless floor design (wheelchair).

or how about redisigning an old and outdated city to modern or even future standards. underground electric/plumping/mass transit/freight railway/freeway, ease of access for multi-modal transport, no need for a car in city with hop on and hop off transit. running off of solar energy collected from the high-rise buildings inside the city.

"shove the clutter under the carpet" idea :p

How about studying the feasibity of a fully tax funded transit system in larger cities. Cons: all taxpayers would have to pay for the service ... even if they don't use it. Pros: there are tons of socio-economic benefits ... even for those that won't use it (cleaner air, less traffic / frustration, less reliance on oil / gas, reduced parking requirements, etc).

Yes this smacks of socialism. However there are some aspects of socialism that makes sense.

I think a volcano would be appropriate.

I think a volcano would be appropriate.

mmm... geothermal power :lol:

Volcano island with an elevator for going up (hydralics), an elevator for going down (pneumatics), a piece of rope from the inside of the volcano leading to a stove therefore igniting it (heat transfer).
The volcano is an endless pit of possibilities.

How about the feasibility to have an interconnected highway of vehicles that are completely controlled (acceleration, position) by a computer grid when they are on that highway network. This network would parallel the US highway system, but would allow people whose cars support automatic driving to be brought on this network.

Its advantages are density, pack cars inches from each other until they get to their destination. Because people are not driving, crashes due to drunks are not an issue. However, there are disadvantages -- one software glitch or one malicious program could cause BIG problems.